Our pygmy hippo baby is growing up! Today, the Metro Richmond Zoo celebrates Poppy’s first birthday. Our beloved holiday hippo has brought tremendous joy to our team, our guests, and fans around the world this past year.
Poppy’s story captivated millions when we announced her birth on Christmas Eve last year. Since then, she has become one of the most recognizable pygmy hippos in the country. Her videos have generated over 62 million views on the zoo’s social media channels, and she has become a true national media darling, appearing live on Fox & Friends, Good Morning America, and The Today Show (twice).
Poppy’s fans, lovingly known by our staff as the “Popparazzi,” extend far beyond Virginia. More than 2,300 guests from 42 U.S. states have participated in a behind-the-scenes, educational experience with Poppy and Iris. Impressively, 45% of participants traveled from out of state, with the farthest visitors coming from Alaska, Washington, California, Wyoming, and Nevada, as well as guests from Canada.
In October, at a national zoo conference in San Antonio, the Metro Richmond Zoo announced a $50,000 donation to pygmy hippo conservation to help protect this endangered species in the wild.
While today is Poppy’s official birthday, the zoo is closed due to the snowstorm, making an in-person celebration impossible. Fortunately, we planned ahead. A few weeks ago, on a warm day, we hosted an early birthday party complete with a custom enrichment cake and her favorite treats. Today, she’s staying cozy in her indoor pool with her mom and celebrating privately with her caretakers. We hope to host a belated celebration for visitors once temperatures rise enough for Poppy and Iris to go outside. Details will be announced later. If anyone deserves three birthday parties, it’s definitely Poppy.
At one year old, Poppy weighs about 250 pounds and is fully weaned, enjoying snacks such as sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, and leafy greens. Pygmy hippos reach full size around age three. Unlike common hippos, they are naturally solitary, with calves typically separating from their mothers sometime after their first year. Our animal care team is monitoring Iris for signs that she’s ready for Poppy to become independent. When that time comes, Poppy will for now remain at the Metro Richmond Zoo, which offers a range of indoor, outdoor, and behind-the-scenes habitats appropriate for pygmy hippos.
12/27/2025 update: Poppy had a public birthday celebration.
